Twelve Meridians

Shi Yi sensed the tiny current of warmth within his body and tried to control it as it flowed through him. As his Soul Power circulated, his lower abdomen gradually grew warm.

Gradually, the diagram of the Twelve Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians that he had drawn yesterday appeared in Shi Yi's mind. Controlling his Soul Power, he continuously explored outward from his Dantian. Shi Yi knew well that if he wanted to break through his innate shackles, he had to create a Cultivation Method of his own. Only then could he improve his cultivation efficiency.

Shi Yi believed that even a simple cycle would greatly benefit the body. Just like a person's blood and vital energy, movement kept them flowing. No matter how obstructed the meridians were, Shi Yi believed that through the continuous circulation of Soul Power, he could achieve something if he cultivated deeply enough.

Outside, Yu Xiaogang saw that Shi Yi had entered a meditative state but said nothing. He naturally knew that Shi Yi was exploring something within his body, so he lowered his voice.

"This aptitude is even worse than I imagined. Yu Xiaogang must have only managed to research this far after absorbing two Soul Rings and receiving a massive influx of energy, which cleared away a small portion of the blockages in his meridians."

Shi Yi controlled his Soul Power and carefully explored his meridians. After investigating, he discovered that his talent was not much better than Yu Xiaogang's. Although he had yet to find any meridians that were completely blocked, Soul Power had an extremely difficult time flowing through the clogged ones.

"Even with a Cultivation Method, poor talent will slow cultivation considerably because of these blockages. It would be great if an expert who understood meridians could help clear them."

"Take it slowly. As long as the path is not completely blocked, the constant circulation of Soul Power can gradually wear away these obstructions."

Perhaps because Shi Yi was still young and his body had not fully developed, he had not encountered any completely blocked meridians yet. He controlled his Soul Power and painstakingly carved a path through his own meridians.

Who knew how much time passed before Shi Yi finally guided his Soul Power back into his Dantian. That tiny current of warmth had actually grown a little stronger.

This meant that Shi Yi had successfully created a Cultivation Method capable of completing a full circulation.

"This amount is slightly greater than what I gain from meditating for an entire night. I just don't know how long it takes." Shi Yi thought to himself.

With that thought, Shi Yi slowly opened his eyes and instinctively looked out the window, only to realize that it was already deep into the night.

Although the Soul Power gained from a single cycle was considerably greater than a night of meditation, perhaps due to the blockages, a single cycle also took longer than meditating for a full night.

"You're awake?" Yu Xiaogang's voice sounded beside Shi Yi's ear.

Shi Yi saw Yu Xiaogang leaning against his bed, holding the materials concerning the prototype of the Cultivation Method.

Before Shi Yi could speak, Yu Xiaogang spoke again. "Eat first. After trying for a whole day, you must have gained something."

Shi Yi felt warmth in his heart at those words. Looking at the food on the nearby table, he nodded slightly.

Shi Yi slowly sat down at the table, picked up a steamed bun, and took a bite. Somewhat indistinctly, he said, "Teacher, if I'm not mistaken, you must have begun this research only after you became an adult."

Yu Xiaogang became interested at once. He set down the materials in his hand, nodded affirmatively, and replied, "That's right. By chance, I discovered the existence of Soul Power Channels within the body. The lower a Soul Master's Soul Power, the longer it often takes them to release a soul skill. This is especially apparent among the students at the academy..."

Yu Xiaogang suddenly stopped, then added, "It is especially apparent among the students at the academy."

As Shi Yi ate, he looked at Yu Xiaogang and nodded slightly. Indeed, it would not have been strange if Yu Xiaogang had discovered it in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. With so many Soul Masters possessing the same martial souls and soul skills, they would naturally notice that the same soul skill could be released at different speeds. There was nothing wrong with Yu Xiaogang understanding meridians as channels through which Soul Power flowed.

"Teacher, I tried circulating it according to your materials, but I did not find the 'endpoints' mentioned in them. However, there are indeed many places where Soul Power has considerable difficulty circulating. Based on my conjecture, this is related to age. I am still young, and my body has not fully developed. Though my aptitude is poor, Soul Power can still form a cycle within my body according to your theory."

Yu Xiaogang immediately stood up, sat across from Shi Yi, and asked excitedly, "My research succeeded?"

Shi Yi nodded slightly. "Although you did not complete this research during your own attempts, while exploring, I used some of the channels you had discovered and successfully completed a Soul Power cycle through the Soul Power Channels. In truth, your research was already close to success. It was simply that your body had fully developed by the time you tried it, and the channels within you had become blocked by impurities. Those were the 'endpoints' mentioned in your materials."

Yu Xiaogang's expression became complicated. Unwillingness, bitterness, dejection—countless complex emotions flooded his heart in an instant.

"Is talent really so despairing?"

Yu Xiaogang looked at Shi Yi with bitterness in his eyes. He had been able to develop such a theory, yet he could not apply it to himself. Shi Yi, meanwhile, had merely looked over his research materials and, in a single day, achieved the ideal state his research had sought.

Shi Yi put down his chopsticks and slowly stood up. He patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder and smiled. "Teacher, there is no need to be so discouraged. Since your theory is correct, is there no way to clear the channels in your body that have been blocked by impurities?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed instantly. Looking at Shi Yi, he asked excitedly, "You have an idea?"

"Of course. And more than one. Soul Ring infusion, and clearing them with external force." Shi Yi smiled.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up as he began considering the feasibility of Shi Yi's proposals.

Seeing Yu Xiaogang deep in thought, Shi Yi did not beat around the bush and simply said, "Soul Rings improve Soul Masters in every aspect. An increase in Soul Power Level naturally means more energy in the body. If the energy increases, don't you think more channels are needed to circulate Soul Power?"

"But even though I still persist in meditating every day, it has been a long time since I showed any signs of breaking through." Yu Xiaogang said anxiously.

"So I recommend the second method more: clearing them with external force. Since Soul Rings can infuse you with energy, can't a Soul Master do the same? Of course, that Soul Master would need to be an expert, someone with gentle and abundant Soul Power as well as extremely precise control over it. They could use externally infused Soul Power to break through the obstructions in your Soul Power Channels. Naturally, this carries risks. These are channels within the human body, after all. If they rupture, I'm afraid you may never have any possibility of breaking through for the rest of your life," Shi Yi said softly.

"Would a Soul Saint be enough?" Yu Xiaogang asked quietly as he looked at Shi Yi.

Shi Yi shook his head slightly. "I don't know either. This is only my conjecture. Ideally, their Soul Power should be gentle and abundant, and their martial soul should possess a life attribute. As for strength, naturally, the stronger they are, the lower the risk."

Yu Xiaogang sighed softly. "It seems I will have little chance of breaking through in this life."

"Not necessarily. Can you get a Soul Bone?" Shi Yi looked at Yu Xiaogang cautiously.

Yu Xiaogang looked at Shi Yi with a cold expression, practically rolling his eyes at him. "If your teacher could get a Soul Bone, would I still be holed up in Nuoding City?"

Shi Yi looked at Yu Xiaogang, helplessness flashing through his eyes. Persistence and determination were Yu Xiaogang's strengths, but his powerful pride and arrogance from who knew where were his weaknesses. He was clearly a young master of one of the Upper Three Sects. Now that there was a solution, was it really so difficult to get a Soul Bone?

Yu Xiaogang sighed slightly. "Perhaps this is fate. Still, I am happy that you can put your teacher's theory into practice. I hope you can continue refining it. Since Soul Power Channels can form a cycle, there must be differences in efficiency between cycles. I hope to see the day you become strong."

Shi Yi nodded at those words and looked at Yu Xiaogang with some surprise. Clearly, Yu Xiaogang still understood the things he had researched. He was not as utterly useless as the netizens from Shi Yi's previous life had claimed.

Shi Yi also understood that completing a cycle was merely the beginning of a Cultivation Method. What he needed to do next was find the most efficient cycle and the one best suited to himself, perhaps even explore some special functions of the Cultivation Method.

"It's getting late. After you finish eating, meditate here tonight," Yu Xiaogang said calmly to Shi Yi.

With that, Yu Xiaogang slowly walked to the window and looked at the moon in the sky, seemingly lost in thought.

Time passed like a galloping white horse, and the days went by one after another. Gradually, as time passed, Shi Yi realized something: at such a precious age, he should not be seeking greater efficiency. Instead, he should focus on his body, which had yet to fully develop.

While he was still young, he would clear all the Twelve Meridians that had not yet become completely blocked. Although this would greatly lengthen the time needed for each cycle, it would lay a solid foundation for his future and raise his upper limit.

As for the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, even Tang San had failed to open them as a child. Shi Yi naturally would not overestimate himself by attempting them.

The Cultivation Method's name was simple. Shi Yi had always been terrible at naming things, so he directly named it Twelve Meridians. After completing a Major Circulation each time he cultivated, Shi Yi could feel subtle changes in his body. Although its circulation was not the most efficient and his progress remained slow, it was still far better than meditation. It was upright and gentle, causing not the slightest discomfort when circulated.

Unfortunately, Yu Xiaogang was not suited to this Cultivation Method. Its circulation spread across all Twelve Meridians, so its requirements for talent were not particularly high, but it was extremely strict about age. It was best cultivated during childhood, making it an excellent foundational Cultivation Method.

By Shi Yi's estimate, it would only take a few more years for him to reach level ten and obtain his first Soul Ring.

Two years later, Shi Yi was quietly reading a thick book in Yu Xiaogang's room.

Over these two years, alongside Shi Yi's diligent cultivation, the Twelve Meridians had brought him tremendous benefits. In just two short years, he had cultivated from level one to level nine, and recently, he had even faintly felt that he was about to break through. Huo Yuhao, ten thousand years later, had needed five years using the Meditation Method to rise from level one to level ten.

Even the Twelve Meridians, which focused more heavily on building a foundation, had shortened that process by more than half. Even Yu Xiaogang had not expected such a result.

A sound of mechanisms rang out. Under Shi Yi's gaze, Yu Xiaogang slowly entered the room, his eyes carrying a trace of emotion and delight. Such an expression was rare on Yu Xiaogang.

"Oh, Teacher, what happy occasion is it today that has made you so pleased?" Shi Yi asked casually as he flipped through the book in his hands.

Yu Xiaogang smiled slightly. "Go to the academy shop and buy a set of bedding. Give it to a child named Tang San. He is your Disciple Brother."

Shi Yi's heart jolted, and surprise appeared on his face. He's here.

Shi Yi looked at Yu Xiaogang teasingly. "Someone besides me is willing to become your disciple? That is truly rare. Junior Disciple Brother's martial soul isn't the same as ours, is it?"

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. "Stop talking nonsense. Go quickly. He is in the same dormitory as you."

"Fine, fine, I'll go, all right?" Shi Yi said, feigning helplessness.

With that, Shi Yi slowly left. Watching his departing back, Yu Xiaogang could not help curling his lips into a slight smile. He was looking forward to seeing what sparks would fly when two geniuses of different types came together.

Shi Yi soon arrived at the shop within Nuoding Academy, took a set of bedding, and said to the shopkeeper, "Put it on Master's tab."

Then, under the shopkeeper's disdainful gaze, Shi Yi left.

When he arrived at the student dormitories, Shi Yi could not help feeling sentimental. Come to think of it, he had not returned here in a long time. For convenience, Shi Yi had long since moved a small bed into Yu Xiaogang's room. In these two years, to change his fate, Shi Yi had done only two things: cultivate and read. When he became completely absorbed, even his meals were sometimes brought back by Yu Xiaogang.

Pushing open the door to Dormitory Seven, Shi Yi found a series of gazes falling upon him just as they had before. Wang Sheng gave Shi Yi a disdainful glance and was about to say something when Shi Yi spoke first. "Who is Tang San?"

A figure slowly stood up and looked at Shi Yi with confusion. "May I ask why you are looking for me? I don't think I know you."

Shi Yi sized Tang San up. Before his bloodline awakened, Tang San looked exceedingly ordinary, without the slightest hint of the aura a protagonist should possess.

Perhaps uncomfortable under Shi Yi's gaze, Tang San's youthful face creased slightly into a frown.

Shi Yi smiled, stepped forward, and handed the bedding to Tang San. "So you're Junior Disciple Brother. This is the bedding Teacher sent for you. Teacher should have mentioned me to you, right?"

Tang San looked at Shi Yi in surprise and immediately thought of the Cultivation Method Master had given him. He's actually a child!

Yu Xiaogang had also taught Tang San the Twelve Meridians that Shi Yi had created when Tang San enrolled. He had never expected that someone in this world would know of the Twelve Meridians, much less create a foundational Internal Cultivation Method for clearing meridians. Moreover, although Shi Yi's Cultivation Method could not be considered superior, it was enough to rival the method Tang San had cultivated as an outer disciple of the Tang Sect in his previous life.

"What is it?"

Tang San slowly came back to himself. He hurriedly accepted the bedding from Shi Yi and gave him a slight bow. "Greetings, Senior Disciple Brother."

Seeing Tang San bow to him so respectfully, Shi Yi nodded indifferently, though his gaze inconspicuously flicked toward the delicate little girl not far away.

"No need to be so polite. Rest well. If there is anything you do not understand about cultivation, you can come ask Senior Disciple Brother." Shi Yi smiled.

Tang San nodded. "Yes, Senior Disciple Brother."

Seeing Tang San's rigid manner, Shi Yi found it rather boring and slowly left.

Tang San watched Shi Yi's departing back, recalling Yu Xiaogang's assessment in his mind. "A genius who uses theoretical research to change his fate."